Increase accessibility to the technology. School systems can review their budget plans and start setting aside money to purchase up-to-date technology for their classrooms. Grants can also be applied for software and hardware needed to run these different materials. Initiatives like the National Broadband Plan are also available to help address the technological needs of those in poverty stricken areas with little resources or access.
Allow time for all students to work with technology in the classroom so all students get a chance to work with it directly. This also gives students who do not have technology at home the same opportunities as those who do have access at home
Encourage all students, regardless of gender or ethnicity, to stay interested in technology is important. This will help to bring diversity to the typically white male dominated fields of science, engineering, and computer science. Hopefully, we can get women more interested in this field and start to eliminate gender stereotypes toward women in the workplace.
Work with the school system to set up open hours for the library on the weekends for families and students to use computers. A paid or volunteer aide could help work the extra hours to inform parents and students about how these technological materials can be correctly used. This would help raise awareness and knowledge and hopefully help mend the digital divide.
Raise money in communities to build more library or increase the amount of computers and technology provided in public libraries. It is important to make technology available to students as well as adults to raise knowledge. Hopefully with more practice, students and adults will master the technology and hopefully eventually be able to own their own technological materials at home.
Tips for following Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons:
Make sure to check with your school administrator to see the school's policy on obtaining and publishing a student's copyrighted material.
Have your technology specialist come into your classroom and work with you on presenting a mini-lesson about copyrights with your students. Make sure they understand that you cannot always "take" what you see on the Internet. Different works belong to different people and they have to make sure they have the correct permission.
Under the Fair Use law, teachers should make sure that they are not violating any of the four factors when using copyrighted materials for educational purposes in their classroom. Make sure they check to make sure graphics, videos, and lessons are not under copyright laws to make sure they are not participating in illegal acts.
Creative Commons is a resource teachers should take advantage of with their affiliation with Open Educational Resources in order to obtain digital materials more freely than going through a copyright procedure. The license can be obtained easily and for free by contacting and logging onto creativecommons.org. All schools should give the website a chance to increase the number of materials that can be used legally in the classroom.
Tips to address Safety, AUP, and Cyberbullying:
1. Make sure the AUP is made aware to the student as well as the adult. Both members should be made aware of the policies and the consequences in case the rules are broken. Make sure the AUP is worded appropriately and clearly so the student can understand it, as well as the parents.
2. Encourage parents to be involved in their students Internet use. Be aware of what your child posts on social networking sites (if they have one) and make sure the students, as well as parents, know the risks and dangers of online profiles.3. Students need to be aware of the dangers of cyber-bullying. Students need to feel comfortable bringing up issues of cyber-bullying or harassment with teachers, parents, or any other adults in their lives. They need to know that bullying is not okay and as a group, we need to come together to put an end of bullying.
4. Parents need to be made aware of cyber bullying as well to see the signs of if/when this is taking place in their child's life. Most children have been a victim of cyber-bullying at some point in their lifetime, while some have retaliated back. Parents need to know when to intervene and make others aware of a problem and to teach their children safe outlets to discard their anger instead of bullying back.
5. Teachers need to correctly introduce the different technological materials to students and review the policies from the AUP. Make sure students have examples of websites they can access and those they cannot. They need to have direct examples of appropriate and inappropriate websites and understand that this technology is for educational use.
Tips for following Copyright, Fair Use, and Creative Commons:
Tips to address Safety, AUP, and Cyberbullying:
1. Make sure the AUP is made aware to the student as well as the adult. Both members should be made aware of the policies and the consequences in case the rules are broken. Make sure the AUP is worded appropriately and clearly so the student can understand it, as well as the parents.
2. Encourage parents to be involved in their students Internet use. Be aware of what your child posts on social networking sites (if they have one) and make sure the students, as well as parents, know the risks and dangers of online profiles.3. Students need to be aware of the dangers of cyber-bullying. Students need to feel comfortable bringing up issues of cyber-bullying or harassment with teachers, parents, or any other adults in their lives. They need to know that bullying is not okay and as a group, we need to come together to put an end of bullying.
4. Parents need to be made aware of cyber bullying as well to see the signs of if/when this is taking place in their child's life. Most children have been a victim of cyber-bullying at some point in their lifetime, while some have retaliated back. Parents need to know when to intervene and make others aware of a problem and to teach their children safe outlets to discard their anger instead of bullying back.
5. Teachers need to correctly introduce the different technological materials to students and review the policies from the AUP. Make sure students have examples of websites they can access and those they cannot. They need to have direct examples of appropriate and inappropriate websites and understand that this technology is for educational use.